Lee's Summit Divorce & Custody Attorney
 

In Missouri contested divorce and custody cases, especially in Jackson County, the court often orders mandatory mediation (Local Rule 68.12 and Missouri Supreme Court Rule 88). This is not optional — it is a required step for contested custody, parenting time, and related issues. Many parents enter mediation with a fighting mindset: “I must win,” “They’re the enemy,” “I have to protect myself at all costs.” That adversarial energy usually leads to impasse, escalation, and wor

In Missouri family law — especially high-conflict custody battles, modifications (§ 452.410), contempt enforcement, and alienation cases in Jackson County — the “terrain” is the 16th Judicial Circuit courtroom, the judge’s tendencies, the GAL’s perspective, the other parent’s patterns, and the emotional and financial landscape. Sun Bin’s teachings offer sharp, actionable wisdom for navigating this complex terrain and outmaneuvering a high-conflict ex without exhausting yourse

The Tengu Geijutsu Ron (The Demon’s Sermon on the Martial Arts) is a rare, Zen-drenched text from early 18th-century Japan. Written in the voice of a tengu — a mythical mountain demon known for trickery and mastery — it instructs warriors that true skill lies not in defeating an opponent, but in transcending the illusion of opposition itself. Victory and defeat are empty; the real battle is with the mind. In Missouri child custody litigation the mind is constantly trapped...

The 36 Stratagems (Sānshíliù Jì) is an ancient Chinese collection of tactical maxims, likely compiled during the Ming or Qing dynasty but drawing from centuries of military and political wisdom. Unlike Sun Tzu’s grand strategy, these are short, ruthless, pragmatic tricks for gaining advantage when outnumbered, out-resourced, or on the defensive—perfect for the asymmetric warfare of high-conflict Missouri custody cases.